ai...

when I was at a linguistics institute, my roommate in the Stanford dorms, was Ai.  Ai, means...love in Japanese.

and how did I get here? I was inspired by a sketch of mine, to take a minimalist approach and celebrate the very basics of a thing....the essence....the spirit....the poetry in the line...which brought me to,

sumi-e.   

Sumi-e is Japanese ink painting...which is spiritually rooted in Zen Buddhism and embraces contrast and harmony...the yin and the yang...light and dark, for light can not be defined without dark...this is a common theme in human expression...that which is and that which is not...

and sumi-e...expresses this the spirit of the subject, through the dance between light and dark...

sumi-e also has roots in the teachings of Bushido, the Samurai Code of Conduct....for the warrior welding the sword, has an artistic parallel in the calm and tranquility essential before the fearless release of a brush stroke.  This embodies ancient warrior codes and sumi-e, the metaphor for the ephemeral world of the mighty Samurai.  (http://www.drue.net/sumi-e-history.htm).


take brush...and confident fearless strokes....teaching to move without hesitation....and having the confidence in the stroke...the tenacity to break through any reservations.


the take home here...stop thinking...do not think...do.  and do...without holding back.  (there is no 'try'...right, Yoda?)

don't let what-ifs control you...too much thinking...and ego steps in....and wants to control everything out of fear.

what if this stroke is wrong?  there is no wrong....there is only experience and the freedom to feel what you need to feel.

make lemonade out of lemons.   and so what if the stroke isn't what you hoped for....get out another piece of paper and go at it...because gaining confidence will make the next effort that much better...give yourself permission to just, do....and feel.


ai...means....Love.....unconditional, giving, Love...the kind of love that gives and gives...so, give yourself some love...and a hug.


peace....and love....and light....and strokes without hesitation....fearless strokes....